Want to know how to get the most out of these small but effective learning cards for your elementary graders?
Of course you do!
Nomenclature cards are an important resource to include in your Montessori classroom. They’re easy and affordable. The perfect tool for your children to extend and self-regulate their learning.
‘Nomenclature’ is an unusual name that comes from the Latin word nomenclatura, meaning, “assigning of names”.
In a nutshell, your children can use the cards to correctly match pictures with their corresponding name labels. Helping them to understand names, meanings and extend their vocabulary. As well as helping them with letter recognition and reading skills.
You know all children are innately curious about the world around them. They can’t wait to discover the names and meanings of the objects and features that make up their experience.
Nomenclature cards perfectly facilitate children’s natural desire to learn and grow language skills. They provide children with an interactive activity to understand their world. With little input required from you. Your child can self-regulate their own learning.
There are different types of nomenclature cards you can use, 3-part and 4/5-part. You can find all of mine here
What’s The Difference?
3-part nomenclature cards are typically used with your early elementary aged children.
The cards feature simple line drawings or photographs of an object. Most commonly of animals or plants. The simple images give focus on the task of language acquisition. The 3-part cards are made up of:
One ‘complete’ card featuring the picture and name of the object.
The second card shows the image alone.
The third card is the name label.
5-part nomenclature cards are a fantastic tool to introduce to your older elementary children.
They share the same purpose as the 3-part cards. But challenge older children with greater quantity and comprehension of text. As well as matching labels to pictures, definition paragraphs with missing terms are included. Your children can be challenged to find the missing term to complete the paragraph definition. For example, ‘The ___________ are like the skin of the earth’, as shown in the example below. The 5-part card pack consists of:
Two complete cards. One of a picture and it’s label. Another of a paragraph of text explaining a definition of a term.
Lone image card.
Lone label card.
Paragraph of the definition with a missing term.
How You Can Use 5-Part Nomenclature Cards In Your Classroom
A great time to introduce the 5-part nomenclature cards is after your First Great Lesson.
You could introduce a concept such as tectonic plates. After the lesson, your children can go
away and interact with the cards about tectonic plates (see below).
Children can match the picture, the label, and the definition to the complete cards. This gives your children the opportunity to go away after the Great Lesson and take time to absorb the new material at their own pace.
They’re able to process the new terms you’ve introduced. Develop their understanding, reading and spelling of the new terms through the visual aid of the 5-part cards.
This is a challenging and high-absorbent activity.
Nomenclature cards are a great resource to encourage your children to linger upon new concepts. They provide children with the opportunity to master language and meaning in a holistic child-led manner.
Your children can independently compare and correct where necessary using the complete cards as a control.
Giving them the opportunity to develop their metacognition, confidence and individuality.
You can find my 3 and 5 part cards here.
